Underwater Robots - The stingray's method of flying through the water could help us design a whole new class of bio-inspired 'bots. The rays' flapping glide could make for more efficient and agile underwater robots and submarines. In order to investigate why these flat fish move so strangely—"like a flag in the wind," —the researchers mapped the fluid flows that occur around a stingray as it swims. They looked at the leading-edge vortex, the vortex in front of a moving object that helps birds and insects fly through the air. Their model shows that stingrays move through the water with the help of vortices that create a low pressure field in front of it, and high pressure near its back end. This moves the fish forward without it having to expend much energy.
Underwater Robots - The stingray's method of flying through the water could help us design a whole new class of bio-inspired 'bots. The rays' flapping glide could make for more efficient and agile underwater robots and submarines. In order to investigate why these flat fish move so strangely—"like a flag in the wind," —the researchers mapped the fluid flows that occur around a stingray as it swims. They looked at the leading-edge vortex, the vortex in front of a moving object that helps birds and insects fly through the air. Their model shows that stingrays move through the water with the help of vortices that create a low pressure field in front of it, and high pressure near its back end. This moves the fish forward without it having to expend much energy.
everyday examples
What's the problem?
That's engineering
Engineering ideas
Do it
Here are some challenges for you to work on...
News, updates
Learn more...
..r0